MGSFV?! Chapter 573. Elapse; May Heaven Be Filled with Instant Noodles?
Before the Final Battle began, in players' expectations…
Savior Kevin was the final boss of the Final Battle.
They would control the main trio to defeat Savior Kevin, and that would be the end.
Very reasonable.
Because from every angle, Savior Kevin was already a kind of "limit." There couldn't possibly be a stronger enemy—
Unless the Cocoon of Finality suddenly went nuts and possessed Kevin.
But clearly, that wasn't realistic. After all, the Cocoon of Finality probably didn't have a brain. How could it even think about possessing Kevin?
Cocoon of Finality: Did someone just say I don't have a brain?
Hokuto: You…
Cocoon of Finality: Did I mishear that?
Hokuto: No, I meant to say, you heard right.
Cocoon of Finality: …
So.
When Kiana and Kevin exchanged their final, determined strikes, colliding with such force that even their weapons could no longer withstand their power—
Players frantically tapped while staying laser-focused on the battle, eager to see who would emerge victorious, yet—
They never expected…
That blow truly marked the final note of the end, signaling the curtain fall on the stage known as the end of the world.
But the final curtain didn't fall the way they expected.
[Isn't this where the Cocoon of Finality was? Why did it suddenly jump to this scene?]
[Also, Kiana has reverted to her original appearance.]
[No idea.]
[Hmm… and the BGM here is really good. Wonder what it's called. miHoYo is a game company, but they keep surprising me with their music. What on earth is—(100 words omitted)]
"I'd really like to know what the BGM here is called too."
"…Let's talk about it later."
For once, he didn't want to say that word aloud.
BGM: Elapse
Meaning—"to pass away."
…
Back to the story.
Just as everyone saw.
Kiana stood once again before the Cocoon—no longer in her Finality form.
She had seemingly returned to her school days.
She turned around.
Bringing into view the young man from a time long past.
Was that… Kevin?
Seeing Kevin in his most ordinary clothes, the audience froze in surprise.
"Kevin?"
"You won." Kevin congratulated her with the same calm voice.
"So…" Kiana paused slightly, "Is this the end?"
"Yeah." Kevin nodded. "This is the end."
"The remnants of the Stigmata Project will also be entrusted to you…"
He looked at Kiana. "You will become the true god of Earth."
"I'm not really interested in that."
"But it's also humanity's first step in overcoming Finality."
Countless bitterness and hardships.
Countless hopes and aspirations.
He had finally achieved his victory, and yet… even now, he remained expressionless and calm.
Kevin still seemed stuck in his old state.
Well, that's understandable.
He carried that burden for so, so long—having some "inertia" was only natural.
But still…
[Is this giving Kiana and Kevin a chance to chat one last time?]
[Buggy: Kevin, I'll raise your wife. You can rest easy.]
[But… Kevin didn't actually…]
[Stop. I shouldn't have said that. Don't explain. Hearing this now, I might…]
"Alright, enough talk about godhood."
Kiana suddenly waved her hand. "As its opposite, how about a showdown between humans?"
Hmm?
It seemed the two Kaslanas didn't plan to end things with a simple conversation.
Of course not!
Two Kaslanas together—how could it end normally?!
And besides.
Kiana knew exactly what the hero before her needed right now.
So, she raised one hand and used her matter manipulation powers to create… a baseball bat?
She invited Kevin to a human showdown.
[There it is! The Kaslana family heirloom baseball bat!]
[When was the last time Kiana used the bat in the main story? Was it… "Meteoric Salvation"?]
And Kevin, standing opposite Kiana, seeing her action—
A long-lost sense of familiarity suddenly tingled at his fingertips.
Back then…
He really liked…
"Heh."
For the first time in ages, emotion showed on his face.
"That does sound fun."
And he launched the first attack toward Kiana.
Clang~~
As the bats collided.
Clang~ Clang~~
"Hah~~"
In the scattering light, Kevin's face gradually began to change.
[...]
They seemed to finally glimpse that relaxed, passionate Kevin again.
Stripped of his savior's burden, only…
Looking back now, was this final fight in three phases?
Disciplinary was phase one, Savior was phase two…
Then, what could follow after the Savior—
The text displayed at the top of the screen gave the answer…[Hero]Kevin.
The Savior required answers.
The Hero—let him find peace and go to where he belongs.
…
[miHoYo! Why throw this at us now??]
When fighting Savior Kevin, most players had only one thought: to give their all. Their focus was so intense that their emotions were dulled.
But this third phase, devoid of overwhelming pressure, made them…
[Kevin… Kevin...]
[The Savior became the Hero… Shedding the title of Savior, only the true Hero remains.]
[Guys, I can't bring myself to hit him. We must strike down Disciplinary, surpass the Savior, but the Hero…]
They, she, he…
Maybe all felt the same.
At least Hokuto saw someone nearby pause slightly while pressing the movement keys.
The hardest moments aren't necessarily when you must fight to move forward… Because then, you can't think much, and success may wash away the sorrow.
It's when you're finally allowed to calm down—
When you stand at the end and look back, and the one who always stayed behind shows you a smile filled with contentment.
When you realize it's truly goodbye—he won't catch up again.
That's when your emotions get hard to control.
Until…
The story once again gently nudges everyone forward.
Ugh, why "again"?
Hokuto: ...
…
"Kiana."
"Though we're not exactly close… if given the chance, you'd be someone worth befriending…"
Kevin simply shared his thoughts.
No need to avoid anything now.
Though such thoughts likely wouldn't have time to become reality…
"What are you saying!"
Kiana responded, "Aren't we already a kind of friend, right now?"
"..."
A simple thought, met by a kind soul—
Thus yielded a simple and kind outcome.
Nothing could be more fitting for this moment.
More of Kevin's accumulated coldness melted away. His voice even held a trace of playfulness.
"Then… want me to teach you some baseball techniques?"
He sure was confident…
Although Kevin was great at baseball, he was never a technical player. Honestly, his technique was awful… ahem.
Forget it.
Let's not roast Kevin now—let him keep his cool image for the end.
After all, this is the end.
"No thanks! You might not even beat me!"
Kiana, strangely confident in her own baseball skills, declined his offer.
Clang~ Clang~~
Kiana and Kevin's bats continued tapping against each other playfully.
Though players said earlier they couldn't bear to fight, seeing Kiana and Kevin chatting like friends eased them in.
They treated the "clang clang" as a friendly exchange.
Which it really was.
So their expressions grew calm.
Seems like the story once again successfully "nudged" the players forward.
But…
It couldn't last forever.
The sweet part is just to better prepare them for…
Once the sugar's gone, it's time to—cough—move forward. (serious.jpg)
"Come on, time to bring out your trump card."
"Gladly, just what I was thinking."
Unnoticed.
A blue glow began to radiate from Kevin's body. Tiny fragments of light drifted away from him, scattering into the space.
Silently revealing one truth to everyone.
This simple, pure, and precious "showdown" was coming to an end.
"The end."
Seeing Kevin like this now, along with the system prompting her to press the strike key…
"..."
I don't want to…
But that's not a good thought, right?
Still, it shouldn't hurt to pause and take a longer look.
When you don't want to move forward, just stop for a bit.
Then look…
"..."
The simple, pure, passionate young man.
Named Kevin.
He had already, by his own will, toward his self-set goal, in his own way, given it everything…
Now, he simply wanted to…
Seeing Kevin still swinging seriously, still waiting seriously for her response—
She closed her eyes slowly, then opened them again.
No longer hesitating.
Like writing the last lines of a heartfelt letter to a dear friend—
So much emotion, so little space, yet still…
She gave it a closing period.
"Goodnight."
She pressed the strike key the system kept urging her to hit.
A charge bar appeared at the top of the screen and filled rapidly.
Then—
Kiana leapt high, like a bird taking flight.
Kevin stood below, making a firm lifting gesture.
Clang~~
Their baseball bats collided one last time.
Brilliant light blossomed.
Kevin steadily supported it—then willingly let go of his bat.
Under everyone's gaze.
With a faint trace of visible contentment,
He vanished with the light.
"..."
…
For a moment, silence.
This journey, with its stops and detours, all of Kevin's drifting traces—they had seen them all.
They knew him, knew clearly that the "horizon" was only seemingly close, yet he still walked toward it through fire and flame.
So, as the BGM "Elapse" reached its end, as the young man vanished with the light—
They couldn't help but raise their hands.
Not in analysis, not in narration, but simply letting their feelings take shape as words.
Each line, the truest form of emotion.
[You won. Congratulations, Kevin.]
[You've worked hard. From here on, she (and we) will keep walking forward. (Goodbye, Boss Kevin!)]
[As the current captain of Hyperion, I salute Kevin Kaslana, a pioneer of the Previous Era, with the highest respect!]
[Kevin, you've walked this long road for so long. You've worked hard. (teary-eyed)]
[The world just lost another soldier of pure love.]
[May heaven be filled with instant noodles.]
[May there be no dark cuisine in your dreams.]
"..."
Well, their heartfelt blessings really came in all shapes and sizes.
Though that's what makes them feel real.
But maybe… just maybe, a bit too real?
"May heaven be filled with instant noodles"—seriously?
You're in heaven—can't you eat something better?
Like barbecue? Or rare delicacies?
Or better yet, you're in heaven—maybe food shouldn't be the top concern anymore?
In the white light.
As waves of comments flowed by.
Finally, players began to realize—
The battle was over, but the story wasn't.
[Hmm?]
Kiana's voice came: "Is this the end?"
"Yeah, it's the end. Witnessed by the Cocoon, you'll inherit and guard the complete powers of Finality… That's enough."
"Then, what about you…"
"I'm leaving—to where they are."
"..."
"No need to be sad. This too is my wish. Now, I can finally proudly say to them…[Everyone, thank you for waiting]."
[Kevin… he's going to find Mei and the others, right?]
[If we look at it positively, yes.]
[So now, only Class Monitor remains from the Thirteen Flame-Chasers?]
[Griseo: ?]
[Su: I still have a chance.]
[I know you're trying to lighten the mood, but all I could think of was this:]
[**: We've defeated Finality!
Griseo: That's great! So, where is everyone?
Su: Kevin, he…]
While players discussed the continuing story—
[Wait, your version still goes on?]
[Huh?]
Some players discovered they had reached different endings.
[My story ended here.]
[You're asking me? Who do I ask?]
[Could it be because I didn't retry the fight yesterday, and got the first ending? I thought it just added a bit of air battle story.]
[What? Someone didn't retry?! (shocked.jpg) Ahem, well, that's fair. Everyone plays differently. I respect and wish you well.]
Soon, someone figured out the difference between their paths.
And many watching live realized what that one person meant when they said—
"The process will change."
[So that's what it meant.]
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